Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-01-26
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

LIN IER-OlAlE Yum III ERCE.
Synopsis of the Bill just Passed by Con-
gTeSS.
The act applies to all common car
riers. All charges for such transport
alton must be reasonable and just.
Section 2 provides against any dis
elimination for or against any indi-
viduel, firm or business, direct Or
indirect, by special rate, rebate or
drawback, in the transportation of
passengers or property, and section 3
consists OF details in prohibiting such
discrimination by means OF preferences
or special or unequal facilities for or
against patrons.
Sec. d covers the long and short haul
question, and is the clause in the act which
has been most fruitful in discussion and
most doubtful in effect. It reads: "That
it shall be unlawful for any common car
rier subject to provisions of this act to
charge or receive any greater compensation
in the aggregate for the transportation of
passengers or of all kind of property, under
substantially similar circumstances and
conditions, for shorter than for q longer
distance over the same line in the same
direction, the shorter being included
within the longer distance; but this
shall not be construed as authorizing
any common carrier within the terms of
this act to charge and receive as great COM
pensation for q shorter as for a longer dis
tance: Provided, however, that upon ap-
plication to the commission appointed
under the provisions OF this act such COM
mon carriers may, in special cases, after
investigation by the commission, be au-
thorized to charge less flor longer,.than for
shorter distances for the transportation of
passengers or property, and the commits
sion may from time to time prescribe the
extent to which such common carrier may
be relieved from the operation OF this Sec
tion Of this act"
The bill further prohibits pooling of earn
ings between different companies and pro-
vides that each DAY of it's continuance
shall constitute separate offense. 1t re-
quires the publicity at all stations of
schedules showing the points between which
the company will do business, with the
charges to be made for such ssrvice, the
same to be printed in type at least plea
size. Separate schedules are required for
| the freight and passenger traffic.
No advance in rates or charges shall be
made without at least ten days public no.
tice which shall state the changes proposed
| to be made, and it shall be unlawful to
| charge or collect more or less than the
| schedule rates while the Same are in force.
| Each company is required to furnish the
commission with copies of it's schedule
rates. Any circuit court OF the United
States may issue mandsmus writ to compel
compliance with this provision.
Any combination or scheme by change OF
time schedule, carriage in different cars,
break OF bulk or other means to prevent
continuous carriage to place of destination
is unlawful.
Any person, firm or corporation suffer
ing from any violation OF the law may COL
lect the full amount of damage incurred,
together with attorneys fees. or may make
complaint to the commission and have the
violation prosecuted under the penalty.
The claim that testimony will eliminate
the witness shall not relieve him from tes-
tifyi1g in a suit for damages, but such tes-
timony shall not be used in a criminal suit
against such party.
The penalty for violation of The act by
any person or corporation shall be, upon
conviction, any United States district court
having jurisdiction, not more than SIS, 900
fine for each offense.
A commission is to be created, consisting
of five persons to be appointed by the
PRESIDENT by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, for terms of six years,
subject to removal for malfeasance or ina
bility. Not more than three such commits
sioners shall belong to the same political
party. They shall engage in no other
avocation or business, shall own no stock
or pecuniary interest in any corporation
under the operation of the law and shall
receive $500 per annum each. They
shall have power to inquire into the
business of all common carriers, require
access to their books and papers,
take testimony and require the pres
ence of witnesses or officers and may de-
mand an annual statement of the detailed
business of any carrier and in reasonable
time require uniform system of account
keeping so far as practicable. Their head
quarters shall be in Washington, but they
may hold Investigations in any part of the
United States. Upon application they
shall investigate charges against any COM
mon carrier. The commission is required
TO annually report to the secretary of the
interior.
Nothing in the act shall apply to prevent
reduced rates to government, national state
or municipal officers or for charitable pur-
poses, fairs and expositions, or to minis-
tiers Of religion; nor to prohibit the sale OF
excursion or Communication tickets. nor the
free carriage of employees or the exchange
of passes between railway officials. And
no pending litigation shall be affected by
this act. That portion of the act with
reference to the creation OF the commission
takes effect Immediately, and the re-
mainder sixty days after the passage of the